So, what exactly is ‘girl math’? 

Girl math is a TikTok trend where girls post videos justifying their spending with captions saying it’s ‘girl math’ or that it ‘doesn’t count’. 

It’s often used as way of rationalising spending whereby the amount spent, on say a $300 bag, is viewed as costing a dollar because you plan to use it every day of the year. Other videos introduce ideas like “cash doesn’t count”, because paying with cash in hand doesn’t decrease your bank balance.

The warning comes from none other than Australia’s financial industry watchdog - the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) - which recently completed research into the attitude among Gen Z Australians to money and finances. 

The 2024 research – conducted by ASIC’s MoneySmart program - found that women aged between 18 and 26 years were more likely than their male peers to feel stressed and overwhelmed by finances and money.  Gen Z women were also found to be higher users of buy-now-pay-later services and to be less likely to research ways to grow their wealth.

In a media release issued by ASIC, ASIC’s acting senior executive leader of corporate finance, Amanda Zeller, said the findings were in line with international research that showed women were less confident and knowledgeable with money than their male peers. 

“This is an issue further exacerbated by harmful stereotypes about young women and money, perpetuating a cycle of financial anxiety and insecurity among women. It's an issue we need to tackle, because the emerging picture is bleak: The financial decisions young women make today will compound across their lifetimes.”

One such stereotype is that women are inherently bad at maths, a harmful mindset that many argue is being perpetuated by ‘girl math’, one of the biggest social media trends of last year. 

Critics, such as ASIC, are concerned that far from being a harmless bit of fun, ‘girl math’ is turning back the clock on financial literacy. 

Ms Zeller said countless studies had shown financially literate people were better at budgeting and saving, managing mortgages and debt, planning for retirement, and growing their wealth. 

“These behaviours aren’t inherent – they can be learnt at any age,” Ms Zeller said. "Instead of stereotyping, let's encourage women to make every dollar count.” 

ASIC’s Moneysmart website offers a range of tools and resources aimed at empowering women to make informed financial decisions. This includes investment strategies and superannuation advice.

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